Rays' Cobb anxious to return to team after rehab start

CHARLOTTE COUNTY, Fla. -- The Tampa Bay Rays begin a homestand Tuesday night against the Oakland A's, and they have good news after Alex Cobb pitched well on a rehab assignment.

Cobb pitched very well in his rehab start in Charlotte County, which is music to the last place Rays’ ears right now. "Didn't have any residual feelings of pain coming back, or thoughts of pain coming back, so everything was good. I was out there being aggressive," says Cobb.

Jeremy Hellickson still has yet to pitch this season, while Matt Moore won't pitch again this season after elbow surgery. With the Rays in last place, but only 4.5 games out, Cobb coming back to his old form would be a boost. "That's really the biggest process in all this is building back up; if you can pick up where you left off, it will shorten the time frame a bit," says Cobb.

He will start Friday's day game against the Red Sox at The Trop. Out of the frying pan and into the fire, right? “I would love for that to be the case. We would have to talk to the front office, Joe and Hick, but I would love for that to be the case. I feel physically ready to go out there and pitch in a major league game."